America the Beautiful: Ansley and Broken Bow Host Veterans Programs

CUSTER COUNTY—This Veterans Day signifies nearly 100 years since the end of World War I and this week schools all across the nation have halted classes in order to thank our veterans. Both Ansley and Broken Bow Public Schools celebrated Veterans Day this week by hosting programs in which local veterans were recognized. Ansley students shared their musical talents by singing selections such as Proud to be an American, God Bless America, You’re a Grand Old Flag, and America the Beautiful. The high school choir performed In Flanders Fields and students also presented a brief history of the holiday, highlighting the importance of the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. The Broken Bow band performed a beautiful rendition of the Star Spangled Banner. Tribute was paid to each branch of the military with the Armed Forces Medley. Each school closed their programs with Taps performed on the trumpet. Click here to listen to the Veterans Musical Tribute of performances from Ansley and Broken Bow Schools Local veteran Denise Sughayar shared her story of serving in the Nebraska National Guard as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. She told the audience only about seven percent of the American population serves in the military. Sughayar ended her speech asking everyone to support their veterans, call their local politicians and ask them to support veteran rights, donate to veteran organizations, and volunteer in their communities. Sughayar said she is proud to have served and thankful for the support. “I’m proud to be a veteran. I actually think it would do everyone good to serve in the military or provide some other public service during their life. It was not a path I could imagine God would choose for me and I will never feel that my sacrifices were equal to those who came before me. But I am privileged to count myself among this elite group of people. I am also blessed to live in a place where veterans are held in high regard,” Sughayar stated. KCNI/KBBN will present a special news feature on Saturday where we will share all of Denise Sughayar Veterans Day speech. Click here to view the Ansley Public Schools Veterans Day Program on the Cube Click here to view the Broken Bow Public Schools Veterans Day Program on Facebook